The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1887-12-17


sensible man wants any such ban
bles anyhow, their worthlessnesc
and insignlficance being fully ap
preciated by all men who have
more brains than vanity, and who
are more thoroughly permeated
by the genuine spirit Of manful
republicanlsm than animated by
the spirit Of toadylsm or an obse.
qpious desire to ape the fripperies
and factitious distinctions that
characterize monarchical nobilities
or hereditary arlstocrats. Fortu-
nately, the pig tail affix of " Esq, "
which was formerly so common in
this country, in imitation of a
meaningless English custom, has
Of late years passed out OF fashion
and into inocuous desuetude. "
The plain and proper " Mr.. }" is good
enough for any respectable and
reasonable American citizen, and
those among us who are not sat
isfed with it ought to betake them
selves at once and forever to the
dominlons of " Her Majesty, the
Queen" or " His Imperial Males
ty the Emperor" where, by a
marriage of convenience or ambi-
ton into the aristocracy or the
purchase Of highsounding but
empty princely title, they may lux
uriate on the pride of name and
the plaything of titled nobility"
to their hearts content.
1t is to be remarked that there
is no provisions OF law in this coun-
try, either national or state, which
authorize or even countenance a
President or a Governor to be des
ignated as 4" His Excellency,"
Judge or justice as His Honor"
or anybody as Honorable" The
fact that these titles have been
adopted and are adhered to in this
country, is only an evidence that
we are decended from European
ancestors, and have engrafted up
on our unwritten law" and per
petuated some Of their customs
and traditions, which, however
detensible they may be in the
old country" are utterly inappro-
pirate here, whore all men are tree
and equal before the law, and
where titles Of distinction are con
trary to the spirit OF our lnstitu
tions.
There are some decorative or
ders in some Of the European ma
tionalities that have substantial and
honorable significance, and are
worthy any brave mans ambition.
Of these is the Victoria Cross of
England, bestowed upon officers
ct the army in recognition of de-
mOnstrated valor or eminent ser
vice in :he face Of the nations en-
envy in war; that is a genuine re-
ward Of merit it means some
thing; it can neither be bouget nor
sold ; its bestowal is not a matter
Of royal prerogatiye, but OF royal
duty and the possessor Of the
badge wears, not a worthless trim
ket that marks mere tavorite of
court or Of the accident OF fortune,
not a thing that can be purchased
with money or won by fattery and
todyism by the parasites of a
princely house, but a treasure that
tells of individual merriam honor
won by manly deeds OF bravery
in battle or distinguished skill in
conducting a great campaign. On
the other hand, the decorative dis
tinctions that are distributed by
royal favor among all sorts OF
people" IN Great Britain-the Or
der of the Garter and the Order of
the Bath, tor example-are, like
the red rosette Of the Legion
of Honor OF France, cheap, empty
and childish baubles, which no more
indicate merit, maniness, or other
I 1